Open Thread: Patriots Options in the Seventh Round

The Patriots have had incredible success with their 7th round selections over the last decade. Julian Edelman, Matt Cassel, Alfonzo Dennard, Brandon Deaderick, Tully Banta-Cain, David Givens and Patrick Pass have all contributed in tangible ways.

What hidden value is out there this year?

I’ll name a few prospects that I’d like the Patriots to take a look at, but this exercise is mainly for you. Show us all the hidden talent hiding out in your neck of the woods.

Sean Renfree (QB, Duke)

Renfree is a quarterback that can be developed and flipped for a higher pick in a couple of years. He has good pocket presence, makes decisive reads and has enough power and accuracy in his arm to be an NFL quarterback. Shoulder surgery is the main thing pushing him down into the seventh round.

Keenan Davis (WR, Iowa)

The Iowa Hawkeye offense was abysmal this year and Davis’ game suffered greatly. He has some good physical tools and would be an interesting stash for a team’s practice squad. Given a year or two of seasoning, I think he can be a solid #4 receiver in the NFL.

Nik Embernate (OG, San Diego State)

As we mentioned in December, Embernate had his way with one of the top prospects in this draft – BYU defensive Ezekiel Ansah. At 6’4″ and 305, he projects as a left guard for the Patriots – a developmental guy ready for Scarnecchia University.

Your turn: Who are the 7th round steals that the Patriots should be looking at this year?

Matt Evans LB New Hampshire
Nick Clancy LB Boston College
Any QB who has a big arm and can be stashed on practice squad.
Any starter at a big time college who has an injury history. The Pats can stick them on the pup list and see how they develop.

DT – William Campbell, Joe Vellano
DE – Mike Catapano
DB – Earl Wolff there’s probably a few guys who could be excellent special-teamers and decent deep reserves, but none who stand out as potential starters

WR might be the only positional category likely to produce a 7th-round “steal” like Colston, though there could be an RB or TE who ends up way overachieving

I’m guessing that the “steals” from this draft for the Pats will come a couple-three years from now when they pick up a guy in free agency that another team drafted in the 4th or 5th and did nothing with (a la Ninkovich).